{
"currentVersion" : 10.81,
"cimVersion" : "2.7.0",
"id" : 0,
"name" : "CCWP Forest-Forest Connectivity Priorities",
"type" : "Raster Layer",
"description" : "Local connectivity refers broadly to connectivity among existing habitat patches to facilitate daily and seasonal movements for foraging, breeding, overwintering, and establishing new territories. These types of movements are essential for many species to complete their life cycle requirements. The focal species group chosen for the local connectivity analysis are those requiring movement between forest patches (e.g. mammals) or between forest and wetland patches (e.g. amphibians and reptiles). These groups were also selected since these species represent the group that is most impacted directly and indirectly by habitat connectivity loss in GTA. These predicted active areas of movement are referred to as “habitat networks”. They reflect the relatively higher functioning mosaics of breeding habitats of forests and wetlands. To assess local connectivity, we compiled existing data on two key habitat types, forests and wetlands, from orthophoto interpreted natural cover data (2013), ELC (2013), and evaluated wetlands (MNR 2011); all mapped wetlands and forests were included. We mapped a network of habitat patches that have the potential to facilitate movements within home ranges and for migration of focal species (D’Eon et al. 2002, Van Der Grift and Pouwels 2006).